Top construction



May 22, 1928. 1,670,422

H. s. PIERCE ET AL TOP CONSTRUQTI ON Original Filed Jan. 7, 1925 l t f a f h mm M 1. zwi 55%;

i a0 Z9 5 BY A'i'TORNEY Patented May 22, 1928.

nonesons. rumor: Ann ,rosnrn 1r. BOURGON, TO THE STUDEBAKER oonronn'rron, or son or new JERSEY.

TOP CONSTRUCZlION.

or nnrnorr, nromenn, .essrelvons In BEND, mnraam, A CORPORATION Original application filed January l, 1925, Serial No. 1,041. Divided and this application filed August 28, 1926. Serial No. 130,982.

This invention relates to tops for motor vehicles and the like and particularly to tops of the permanent type, and is a division of our eo-pending application, filed 6 January 7 1925, and serially numbered 1,041, and has for one o f its objects :to provide a top of novel and improved construction, the main portionof which may be composed of sheet metal to make it strong and durable, and to which the various other top members and adjuncts may be applied to form a permanent unitary structure.

Another object is to provide an automobile top frame constructed mainly from sheet metal being provided with a metallic brace member to which the sheet metal is secured and which forms a connection for a wooden frame front cross member.

A further object is to provide a member -forjoining a top frame {front cross member to a sheet metal top, which is provided with means for supporting a'roller curtain there- ,on' and also for securing a top support thereto. a 7

Anotherobject is'to provide a connecting means of new and novel construction for thein'ain "top frame with the front cross connecting member. 5 i

The above being amongthe objects of the ent invention, and in which like numerals refer to like parts "throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view ofa cornc pleted top constructed in accordance with thepresent invention shown mounted upon an automobil'ebody.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of atop frame constructed in accordance with the present-invention, which may be used'in con nection with the completed top "shown in f Figure 1;

present. invention, the same consists of cer- Figure 3 is a partially phantomed fragmentary perspective view of the right front corner of the top of Figure 1 from outside of the top, showing the member which connects the top front cross member to the sheet metal frameand to which is secured the front top support, a portion of the latter being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 4: is a fragmentary perspective view of the same corner shown in Figure 3, but taken from within the top, the top frontc-ross member being shown in full lines in connection with the connecting member,

and the sheetmetal frame,

port, and roller .dotted lines.

front top supcurtain being shown by Figure 5 is a sectional View takenlongitudinally of the top through the top right front corner, showing themanner of securing the members together and the method ofmoun ting -the roller :curtain on the con meeting member.

be used :in connection with the present invention, a top frame 10 is formed from a contlnuous sheet into the desiredshape and contour, that is, to the sha shown n Figures 1 and 2,01-

pe of tops as otherwise, but

preferably suchthatno flat spots are n'cscu't anywhere on its surface to better eliminate ,any drumming sound that may develop.

A plurality of relatively long and narrow slots l l extending lengthwise of the top are provided in the upper surface thereof, the same being in overlapping relation transversely of the top and the metal displaced in the forming of the same ispre'ferably turned downwardly perpendicular to the plane of the top to form 'a stiffening flange or rib 12. To further strengthen and to provide tacking the top strips for the top inner lining it may be preferable to provide ribs such as 14 which extend transversely of the top and are secured thereto by screws 15. The ribs 14 may be secured in place either across the overlapping portion of the slots 11, or across the non-overlapping portion as may be considered most advisable.

A wooden front cross member 17 is preferably used to facilitate the securing of the windshield 1S and rainshield 19 thereto, although if desired a sheet metal or other type of cross member may be substituted. In order to properly hold the same in place and for other objects hereinafter described, a connecting member 20 is provided as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. This connecting member 20, as shown, may be a casting, although it may be produced in a different manner such as from stampings, and is shaped to form an attaching flange 21 for receiving and to which is riveted the forward outer edge of the sheet metal frame 10. The forward edge of the member 20 is formed to overlie the top and side of the cross member 17 and to conform or blend into the shape thereof, the overlying portions forming a socket for receiving the cross member 17. A bolt 22 extends up through the cross member 17 and up into a pocket 23 in the member 20 which is adapted to receive a nut 24 for drawing the two members together, the nut 24 and the end of the bolt 22 being below the surface of the member 20 to eliminate any projection which would be apparent after the top covering is applied. A vertically disposed transversely extending flange is also formed on the member 20 which is adapted to seat against the rear face of the cross member 17 and be secured thereto by screws such as 26. It will be evident that this forms a very rigid and secure means for connecting the cross member 17 to the frame 10. In addition, a lower horizontally extending flange 27 is provided for receiving a. stud 28 which is used for securing the top to the upper end of the top front support 29, and an apertured boss 30 is provided under the flange 21 for receiving the axle pin of the roller type side enclosure 31 which may be used when the construction is adapted to fit an open type of body 32 as shown in Figure 1.

While I have illustrated a top adapted for use on an open type vehicle it will be readily understood that this construction is adapted for use on closed type vehicles, and thata top frame of any suitable construction having a front cross member forming a part of the top connected to the frame of the top by a similar connecting member may be used with equal advantage to the structure illustrated.

It will be readily apparent that the connecting member above described may be used 'in securing the front cross member to a top frame constructed wholly or partially of wood, and also that the same may be used with equal advantage in tops which do not have curtains mounted on rollers.

The top frame illustrated and described may be varied as necessity or convenience may require, and formal changes may be made in the connecting member forming the subject matter of the present invention without departing from the spirit and substance of the broad invention, as we desire to claim the same broadly as well as specifically, as pointed out in the appended claims.

What we claim is 1- 1. In combination with a vehicle body including a top having a side rail and a front cross member, and a post for en portin said top, means for joining said rai to said cross member comprising a member provided with flanged means conforming in shape to said rail and secured thereto, a flanged portion extending around the end of said cross member and secured thereto, and a horizontal attaching surface adapted to be secured to said post.

2. In a vehicle top having side quarters of sheetlike material and a front cross member, means for joining said side quarters to said cross member comprising a. pair of corner members each of which embodies a surface portion conforming in shape to the finished top and provided with a flanged portion extending around the end of said cross member and secured thereto, and a flanged portion eomplemental to the corresponding forward end of said side quarters and secured thereto.

3. In combination with a top frame having a sheet metal top portion provided with integral curved side quarters and a wooden cross front member, means for securing said cross member to said sheet metal top comprising a member provided with a surface conforming in shape to a portion of said top frame, said member having a flange secured to the curved surface of said side quarters and a series of flanges part of which extend transversely to said first flange providing a socket for an end of said cross member.

4. In a vehicle top having side enclosures, I

a top frame comprising a ont cross member and a sheet metal portion having formed side walls, a member for connecting said cross member and sheet metal portion, said member having a flange for attachment to said sheet metal portion, a socket ortion for receiving said cross member, an an apertured boss extending outwardly from one of the members forming the socket portion for supporting said side enclosures.

5. In a vehicle top having a support and side enclosures, a top frame comprising a front cross member, a sheet metal top portion, and a connecting member comprising a socket portion to receive said cross member,

an attaching flange for securing said sheet metal top thereto, and

a support formed on one of the members formin vthe socket portion for detachably supporting said side en- 5 closure.

6. In a vehicle top having a side enclosure,

the combination of a. continuous sheet metal top frame, a front cross member for said frame, a post for supporting said top, a

i 1 member for supportin for connecting said said enclosure and raine, cross member and support together comprising a flange attached to said frame, a socket portion to receive said cross member, anda boss substantially surrounded b said flange to sup- HODGSON S. PIERCE. JOSEPH H. BOURGON. 

